Folding metal bed



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A. D. HUSTON. .FOLDING METAL BED.

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N o. 518,996. Patented May 1,1894.

W057i effen Nirnn STATES PATENT Orricn. l

ADELBERT D. HOUSTON, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

FOLDING METAL BED.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 518,996, dated May 1,1894-.. Application led September 16,1893. Serial 110.485.696. (Nomodel.)

To all whom t may concern.:

Be it known that I, ADELBERT D. HOUSTON, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of the cityof Brooklyn,in the county of Kings and Stateof New York, have invented certain Improvements in Folding Metal Beds,of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to folding beds constructed wholly, orsubstantially so, of metal `bars or tubing.

The invention will be fully described hereinafter with reference to theaccompanying drawings and its novel features carefully defined in theclaims.

In the said drawings-Figure 1 is a perspective view of a bed embodyingmy invention and representing the bed-frame as down, or unfolded. Fig. 2is a fragmentary perspective view, on a somewhat larger scale, showingthe bed-frame folded. Fig. 3 is a side view of the bed, showing theframe in full lines, as folded into the standard, and in dotted lines,as unfolded. Fig. 4 is an enlarged, transverse section of the side-railof the bed-frame.

The bed is represented in Fig. l as rather narrow, in order to economizespace; but it will be understood that it may be of the usual Width orwidths.

The standard, A, is made of metal bars or tubing, and preferably of irontubing for the sake of lightness and cheapness. It comprises an elevatedframe, consisting of two uprights or standards, a, a, connected at theirtops bya canopy frame, b, which projects forward and is formedintegrally with the standards by means of right-angled bends in thetubing, as clearly shown. rlhe standards are also connected by ties, c,c, c, and the spaces filled by rods or slender tubes, cl. Where theserods join and intersect the ties ornamental sockets are employed. At itslower part, in front, the standard has legs e, e, which are bent intothe form of knees at their npper parts and secured to the respectivestandards at ex, ex. The legs are connected, respectively, to thestandards by flat bars,f, f, to forni pivot-bearings for the bed-frameB. The standard is provided with casters, g.

The bed-frame proper, B, is similar to a woven wire bed-spring, and asherein shown it consists of a stout frame pivotally mounted in the bars,f, at, and the ordinary woven wire fabric, h, strained over said frame.'I n Figs. l and 2 l'. have shown fragments of this fabric, and in Fig. 3it is represented in edge view by a single line. The frame on which thewoven wire h, is strained is formed of two metal side-rails, z', t', ofangular cross-section, as seen in Fig. 4, and of two end-rails', 1X, ofWood.

On 'the foot of the bed-frame, B, is fixed a foot-pece,comprising as itselements apiece of tubing, j, which extends across the bedframe and hasits extremities bent down and secured to the ends of the side-rails,fr', of the frame at y. The upright parts of the tubing are braced byknees, j", of bent rods, secured at one end to the tubing, and at theother end to the side-rails,i, of the frame. Atransverse bar of tubing,j', extends across between the uprights of the tube, j, and the spacebetween the tubes is crossed by rods or slender tubes, dx, similar tothe rods, d, in the standard. When unfolded or down, as in Fig. 1, thebed-frame is supported on folding legs, lc, lo, pivotally attached orhinged to the respective pendent flanges on the side-rails, i, of thefranie, and connected by two transverse ties, kx; these ties areconnected or tied at the middle by a rod, lo. The legs, k, and theirties will be of metal tubing. The hinged legs are adapted to be foldedand unfolded automatically, when the bed-frame is operated, by means ofrods, fm, m, hinged to the respective folding legs lo, at one end, andto the respective legs, e, of the standard, at the other end.

When the bed-frame isfolded into the standard, as seen inv Figs. 2 and3, it is held in that position by the rods, m, which form a toggle withthe legs, lo. The lower ends of the rods, m, being pivoted -to the legs,e, the said rods stand vat an angle when the bedfraine is folded orturned up, and serve. as braces, their upper ends pressing the foldinglegs, la, back against the top flanges of the respective side-rails,fr', and the` bed-frame cannot be pulled down except by first graspingand swinging out the legs, lo. The bedframe is prevented from beingfolded too far beyond the perpendicular by any suitable stop. As hereinshown the bed-frame below the pivot, (in Fig. 3) strikes the `bent tie-IOO bar or tube, c', which extends across between the legs, e. Thecanopy frame, h, projects far enough to form a support from which tosuspend a curtain', or curtains to screen the bed when folded. In Fig. 3I have shown a part of such a curtain, X, in dotted lines. rllhiscurtain, which may be suspended from the canopy bar by hooks, in a knownway, forms no part of the bed, and it will be, or may be removed whenthe bed is in use.

W'hen the bedding is on the bed-frame and the latter is folded into thestandard, the 'bedding will occupy the space between the uprightstandard and the upright frain e, and it will be prevented from fallingor working down by a head-piece, n, hinged at one end to the head-iailof the bed-frame and resting, when the'bed is folded, with its free endagainst the upright rods, d, of the standard. In Fig. l this head-piece,n, is represented as folded down on the bed-frame, but when the beddingis to be put on, it must be turned up to a vertical position, asindicated by dotted lines in Fig. 3. This head-piece will be of metalrods, and in the form of a grid, by preference,.and it will be of suchwidth that when the bed is folded it will stand in an inclined position,as clearly shown, and forni a sort of pocket to receive the bedding.

It is important that the attachment of the tube forming the front legs eto the uprights d of the standard shall be very firm in order to giverigidity to the structure ot' the standard,and to effect thisI forge aneye in the end of the tube and weld it fast about the upright a as seenat e in the principal figures, and in the detached view, Fig. 5. Thefiat bars,f, have tenons at their ends which pass through the uprightsand are riveted down thereon. In addition to the welding of the eyes ateX about the uprights a, they may be riveted thereto. I consider thisrigid construction of the frame essential to the durability and propercontinued operation of the bed.

I do not claini herein broadly the use of metal tubing to form parts ofa folding bed, nor doIclaiin broadly,ina folding bed, means forautomatically folding the legs of the bedfraine, when the bed is foldedup.

Having thus described my invention, I claiinl. In a folding bed, thecombination with the standard having tubular uprights a,forming rearcorner posts or legs, ot' the tubular front legs e, arranged in front ofthe said rear corner posts or legs of the standard and having theirupper ends bent rearwardly and provided with eyes surrounding and Weldedfast to said upriglits a., ties or braces f, connecting said iiprightsct and legs e near their lower ends, and the bed frame pivotally mountedin said standard, substantially as set forth. I

2. In a folding-bed, the combination with the standard having tubularuprights a, forniing rear legs, of the tubular front legs e, havingtheir upper ends heut rearwardly and r1gidly secured to said uprights a,the ties or bracesf, connected to the lower portions'of said uprightsand legs, and the bed-frame pivotally secured in said braces,substantially as set forth.

3. In a folding bed, the combination with the standard having tubularuprights a forming rear corner posts or legs, said upriglits beingconnected by suitable cross rods and having their upper ends bentforward and connected to form a canopy support, of the tubular frontlegs @connected at their lower ends by suitable cross rods, and havingtheir upper ends bent rearwardly and provided with eyes surrounding andwelded fast to the lower portions of said uprights of the standard, tiesor braces connecting said uprights a and legs e near their lower end,and the bed frame pivoted in said braces, substantially as set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my naine in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

ADELBERT D. HOUSTON. llfitnesses:

HENRY CoNNE'rT, JAMES K. DUFFY.

